Devotion To Prayer Opposed!

When Paul wrote to the Colossians to “Devote yourselves to prayer,”-{Col 4:2}, what did it mean to the hearers? They would know the word “devote” spoke of continuing attentively, with persistence, enduring, and steadfastness, with the implication of facing difficulties. To persist, despite the difficulties they would face. And isn’t that the truth, at times we encounter difficulties, and opposition, and often instead of heeding the command to continually devote ourselves to prayer we quit, and become half-hearted.

What is it that causes you to stop persevering in prayer?

When is the last time you gave into difficulties, be they distractions, discouragement, or fears, that caused you to stop persistently praying to God.

Consider Three OPPONENTS to you Devoting yourself to Prayer;

satanic opposition;

Is there one particular “tool” the evil one brings to your thought life to tempt you to quit such as “doubts” about God’s faithfulness, Promises, and “doubts” about your “worthiness” to have your prayers answered. The evil one tempts you to turn you “inward” to self rather than “upward,” to the Savior’s merits, as your “Worthiness.” “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” -{1 Cor 1:30.}. Be encouraged. know your position “In Christ,” Heist is your righteousness before God! Discouragement is another of the evil one’s “tools” to seek to dishearten you and slander God to you by implying prayer is useless, which is to attack the wisdom, and love of God, undermining His character and reputation.

Society opposition;

How can you expect the people of this world who the Bible says are dead in their sins, without God or Christ, spiritually helpless, unGodly, rebellious of God. Suppressing the Word of God. Mocking Him and His Word, How can you expect them to cheer you on in dependence upon the LIVING God in whose Son they oppose, cross they despise, and are enemies of the cross of Christ. They accumulate their own “moral” goals and life’s aims, promoting their own self-made and demonic “gods.” They seek honor, and praise for themselves rather than God. They are opposed to Him, His will, His ways, and “devoting yourselves to persistently pray” to God as an expression of love for Him and declaration of dependence upon Him, they will find you as foolish, and either mock, ignore you, and will oppose you by exalting their value system and not God! Society is in opposition to people devoted to praying in dependence upon God to do what only God can do, influence a life, and bring about change in their own lives and that of others to the end that His will be done!  Society is in opposition to God!

 

Paul in Colossians 2 lists four ways society opposes, through humanis, mysticism, and asceticism- all an attack that Jesus Christ is not sufficient and therefore your salvation is not sufficient that you need to “add” one of the four areas mentioned to be embraced. A works-based salvation versus Christ-SUFFICENT finished grace salvation.  If you look at cults or religious systems they add to Christ if not taking away from Him, His Person, His Word, and work, it is NEVER “Good enough” and so they add and in doing so seek to even as Paul warns the Christians to take them captive. not that they lose their salvation but that they embrace a lie and in doing so deceive themselves, perhaps others and dishonor the LORD Jesus. So, we come to a book like Colossians and would be wise to go through chapter by chapter to see who He is, what he has done, and who you are “In Christ.”

PAUL TELLS THE BELIEVERS IN CHAPTER 2 THAT THEY ARE “COMPLETE ” IN CHRIST. -{10-}

THERE IS NO DEFICIENCY IN THEIR SALVATION,-{2:11-12}

THERE IS NO DEFICIENCY IN THEIR FORGIVENESS -{2:13-14}

BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEFICIENCY IN THEIR SAVIOR- THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! – {2:15}. THAT’S GREAT NEWS, THAT’S GOD’S NEWS! 

Self opposition;

This is more subtle. the temptation to self-reliance, even in the church where we believe that if we can do it we can make it happen, and don’t need God’s help to produce spiritual results! The temptation to displace God with confidence in the flesh!

Pay Attention;

Nehemiah in chapter six experienced opposition when they tried to make him fearful so that he would become discouraged so that the work might not be done. How did he respond upon recognizing the assault to turn him aside from obeying God? He went forward…and praying!

If you can IDENTIFY the enemy’s tactics, EXPECT to have opposition when you devote yourself to prayer, you won’t be surprised or blown off God’s course for you, but will by the empowering of the Holy Spirit in dependence upon Him learn and at times start afresh as you develop a Godly habit to persist, steadfastly in the face of opposition to “devote yourself to prayer.”

Paul SHOWS HOW TO DEVOTE OURSELVES TO PRAY, in this verse …

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”-{Colossians 4:2}

It’s a command to continually “Persist…Stay Alert, with an attitude of Thanksgiving.”

Keep on praying,..

PERSIST,

BE ALERT,

BE ON GUARD WITH GRATITUDE. FUEL YOUR PRAYERS WITH THANKS…., AND

… YOU ARE DEVOTING YOURSELF TO PRAYER…TO GOD!

God Bless,

Aidan,